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What is an ATAR Pathway?
What is an ATAR Pathway?
What is an ATAR?
• ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank and will be used to select school leavers for tertiary entrance from 2020. It is used nationally and indicates a student’s position relative to other ATAR-eligible students.
• The ATAR is a score between 99.5 – ‘below 30’ that eligible students are awarded on their completion of Year 12
• The ATAR is the most direct entry method to university application for all universities when students are applying straight from school
• While on an ATAR Pathway students are also expected to gain a QCE –Please refer to ‘Senior Schooling at Lowood’ for further details on QCEs
ATAR Eligibility
• The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) will calculate ATARs for students at the end of Year 12. QTAC will calculate your ATAR based on your results in either:
• 5 General subjects
• 4 General subjects, plus one Applied subject, or
• 4 General subjects, plus one VET qualification at Certificate III or above
• To be eligible for an ATAR students must successfully complete an English subject.
General Subjects
• General Subjects are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to tertiary studies.
• Results in General subjects contribute to the awarded of a QCE and can contribute to an ATAR.
• Students will need high level underpinning skills in literacy, numeracy and 21st century skills to be successful in these subjects.
• Students must have undertaken pre-requisite subjects and achieved a pre-requisite grade in Year 10 to be able to enter general subjects in Years 11 and 12.
Essential and Applied Subjects
• Applied subjects are suited to students who are primarily interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to vocational education and training or work.
• Results in Applied subjects contribute to the award of a QCE and one Applied subject result may contribute to an ATAR.
• At Lowood SHS we do not recommend students wishing to undertake an ATAR enter an Applied subject.
• Students will need solid foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, applied learning, community connections and core skills for work from which to work in an Applied subject.
Nationally Recognised Qualifications -VET Subjects• Vocational education and training (VET) provides pathways for all
young people, particularly those seeking further education and training, and those seeking employment-specific skills.
• VET offers clear benefits to students including;
• The development of work-related skills, making young people more employable
• Access to learning opportunities beyond the traditional curriculum, including work-based learning
• Competency-based assessment that meets industry standards
Why choose an ATAR Pathway?
• An ATAR Pathway is recommended for students who wish to go directly from school to university.
• An ATAR Pathway is academically demanding and builds a diverse skill set for students who wish to undertake future high level university courses.
Do I have to have an ATAR to go to University?
• Each university has its own policies regarding school leavers without an ATAR.
• Depending on the university, you may be able to gain entry with other qualifications.
• More information about this can be found in the ‘What is an Industry Pathway’ powerpoint.
Points to note
• All subjects/qualifications are contingents on gaining enough students to run
• Some certificates are subject to partnering with appropriate Registered Training Organisations if she certificate is not on Lowood SHS Scope of Registration
• Many of the packages will require some financial contribution from the student/family
Year 11 Pathway Options 2021
ATAR Pathway Subjects
• Students wishing to undertake an ATAR Pathway must meet the prerequisite subjects
• Undertaking an ATAR Pathway requires students to commit substantial time outside of school hours to be successful
• Students who undertake General subjects will have to undertake Senior External Examinations worth between 25% and 50% of their overall mark in Year 12
Prerequisite information
• Prerequisites are courses of study and required academic achievement to enter specific senior subjects. These are set by the school taking into consideration the complexities and assumed knowledge that students require to be successful in the course.
• This information is based on historical data of students undertaking courses of study and their success in those subjects.
2021 Prerequisites
Wednesday Program
• With a growing number of students accessing TAFE and other outside provider courses, it was decided that Lowood would commit to providing opportunities to all students across Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2021 to participate in these courses.
• We have sought partnerships and added qualifications to our scope of registration to provide a broad range of offerings on a Wednesday.
• Wednesday qualifications run for one year only (unless otherwise specified).
• Students are required to commit to these programs for the full year and no subject changes will be made after week 3 of term 1.
Wednesday Program for ATAR students
Year 10 Year 11 Year 12
Recommended Certificate II Qualificationwhich includes Certificate II in Skills for work and Vocational Education
Certificate III (or above) Qualification
ATAR Tutorials
Examples • Certificate II in Active Volunteering
• Certificate II in Financial Services
• Certificate II/III in Health
• Certificate II/III in Logistics
• Certificate IV in Crimeand Justice Studies
All ATAR eligible students will be supported through their final year with 4 lessons of tutorial support per week based around:• English• Mathematics• Humanities• Sciences
Contact Details
If you require any further details about Senior Schooling and the Pathways offered please feel free to contact:
Head of Department: Stacey Mallett
Resources
• QCAA – Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), Planning your pathway
• https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qce_planning_pathway_students.pdf
